Hunterdon Central grad Bodine wins state Junior PGA crown

MONROE TWP. — After a few poor shots to start the day, Louis Bodine’s attitude pretty much matched his performance.

“I was getting frustrated and was trying to work myself out of a bad mood,” he said. “I was pretty upset with how I was playing but I just told myself to forget about it and have fun, and I began playing better.”

Bodine, who graduated from Hunterdon Central High two weeks ago, began playing a lot better. He concluded the second round with a 38-33—71 to wrap up top honors in the New Jersey Junior PGA Championship tournament at Rossmoor Golf Course on June 26.

Bodine had been tied for first place after a 33-36—69 showing the previous day and his final four-under-par 140 total was three strokes better than Jared Mactas of Woodcliff Lake (70-73) and Max Greyserman of Short Hills (72-71), who finished in a deadlock for second in the 54-player field.

“It’s definitely a huge tournament to win,” said Bodine, who’ll now represent the New Jersey PGA section at the 37th National Junior PGA Championships scheduled for July 31-Aug. 3. “It’s pretty exciting to win this and qualify for the national tournament.

“Going in, I was confident I could at least qualify. I always go in to a tournament expecting good results. The field was pretty good but I knew I could compete and just hoped for the best.”

His best turned out to be better than anyone else entered.

Bodine, who’ll be playing for Rutgers University, was especially sharp during the opening round, which began on the 12th hole. He had two birdies on the back nine, including one via a 20-foot putt on No. 17, and three birds on the front. The next day, he started on No. 1 and pulled himself together after a rough start.

He pointed out the course was in excellent shape and offered “some challenging holes,” particularly the 190-yard No. 12 featuring a water hazard right in the middle. He parred it both days.

“Making my short putts for birdies and pars was a key,” said Bodine, a first-team All-Skyland Conference-Delaware Division selection this spring. “I’d actually been struggling with my putting a lot, even on the practice green before the first round. It was really bad. But then once play began I just started making all my putts.”

Bodine, who this week is in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for some golf and relaxation, will next compete July 17-19 in the Metropolitan Golf Association Junior tourney, a 64-person match-play event at Long Island’s Nissequogue Golf Club in St. James, N.Y. The National Junior PGA will be held at Sycamore Hills Country Club in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Bodine encountered a few familiar faces in the New Jersey PGA tourney. Watchung Hills High’s Luke Graboyes finished fifth at 147 and his brother, Michael, was another shot back.

Dylan Stein, who as a freshman was Bodine’s teammate this season at Hunterdon Central, was among a three-way tie for 10th at 76-74—150. Also at 150 with rounds of 72-78 was Lebanon Township’s Bryan Saxon, who was a standout at Immaculata High in Somerville. Saxon will attend Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill College, a Division 2 school, on a golf scholarship.